Every parent has an idea of where there child is on a normal growth chart. It's an easy barometer for knowing if there are developmental problems because so much about normal range of height, weight, and head circumference across age is known for kids.

Is a similar tool for cognitive and emotional development or for the development of select brain pathways on the horizon?

A map of the development of various brain functions could help parents and providers know when to be concerned and Dr. Thomas Insel, Director of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), writes about a new paper in JAMA Psychiatry (Gur RC et al. Neurocognitive Growth Charting in Psychosis Spectrum Youths. JAMA Psychiatry. 2014 Feb 5. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4190. ) that provides the first picture of what a cognitive developmental chart looks like and how it might be used for children at risk for psychosis.

A Growth Chart for the Mind by Thomas Insel, NIMH